Want to Reduce the Size of my Implants, Can This Be Done Without Surgery?

Question

Is there a way to have saline removed from existing implants without having invasive surgery? Or do I have to have smaller implant replacement?

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

No.  Down sizing an implant will require surgery to access the implants.  If they are silicone they need to be removed and replaced.  If they are saline, some will access the valve and take fluid out.  This method also presupposes that the implants were overfilled when they went in.  Manipulation the valve is also not something you want to do.  The best bet for most is removal and replace with smaller implants.  Some plastic surgeons had put in implants with ports that you can access through the skin, but these had an increased rupture rate so most plastic surgeons went away from this procedure.

	The other thing to think about is that if you downsize, you may have extra skin that may be needed to be treated with a lift.

	Best to talk with your board certified plastic surgeon and see what is best for you.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Downsizing your saline implants without surgery is impossible unless you had adjustable saline implants placed originally.  These implants have small domes beneath the skin that are used as access points for removal or addition of saline.  If you do not have these implants then you have to have the original implants removed and replaced with smaller implants surgically.

	Dr. ES

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

There is no practical way to reduce the size of the implants wihout surgery. Decreasing beyond the recommended fill range is likely to be associated with a higher risk of implant rupture due to crease fold failure. In all likelihood, a new set of implants will be required.

Hayley Brown, MD, FACS · Answer

Breast implant size changes require surgery. I recommend complete implant replacement to a different size. I typically do not recommend valve access and removing fluid. Although this procedure also requires surgery, implant valves are not meant to be accessed more than once, your warranty could be affected, you may feel more implant folds, and the overall size difference would be so subtle, it isn't worth it.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

soso2010,

	If you are wishing to change your implant size, the only way to really do it is by changing your implants.

	Silicone implants cannot have their volume adjusted.  Saline implants can have their volume adjusted but it does require surgery, and the amount of volume that can be adjusted (to stay within the implant volume limits) is minimal, not enough to warrant a full surgery.  Thus you're left with the option of exchanging your implants for a different size.

	There is also an adjustable implant however it is rarely used and you likely do not have it.

	Sincerely,

	 

	Martin Jugenburg, MD

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, the only way to change the size of the implants is to remove them and replace them. You can take some fluid out of your exisiting implants if they are saline, but that requires surgery anyways and can lead to more rippling of the implants themselves. I hope this helps.

Sam Jejurikar, MD · Answer

Hi soso,

	Unlike tissue expanders, which are used in breast reconstructive surgery, saline breast implants do not have an easy way to access the fluid within the implant without invasive surgery. Even if you kept the same implants, you need surgery to access the fluid within.

	Hope this helps. Best of luck.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If you want less volume in your implants you  may either need surgery to lower the total volume or have a new implant with smaller dimensions exchanged.

Olivia Hutchinson, MD · Answer

Reducing the size of saline implants involves surgery to access the existing implants and this cannot be performed non invasively.

Scott E. Kasden, MD, FACS · Answer

There is no way to reduce implant size without some procedure.  If you have silicone, then you have to change them out.  If you have saline, some fluid may be able to be removed, however this would depend on how much "overfil" is present.

	Bottom line, either learn to live with your situation, or you will need surgery.

	Good luck.

	sek

Want to Reduce the Size of my Implants, Can This Be Done Without Surgery?

Answers (14)

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